£10k Bedfont charity event just weeks away

PLANNING is in the final stages for a large-scale charity event in Bedfont, which aims to raise more than £10k for Help for Heroes.

Chris Beauchamp, 28, of Stanwell Road in Bedfont, runs his own promotions company called KGF Entertainments, and is organising the event called Army in the Park on Saturday September 3.

It will feature a set from one of the world's best known garage icons DJ EZ, and will also include a bouncy castle, horse rides, face painting, and special guest appearances from well loved children's cartoon characters among other attractions.

It needs just a few more volunteers from the community, and local residents are being encouraged to lend a hand to help the day run smoothly.

Army in the Park will be held at Bedfont Football and Social Club and runs from 2pm to 10pm.

Mr Beauchamp and DJ Paul Sharp from Sunbury, who is helping to organise the day, have decided to divide the event into several 'zones' for visitors to enjoy, including a nostalgia area with a military exhibition from the Military Vehicle Trust and a stage performance from 'The Clove Sisters', a thirties and forties cover trio, a retail area, with burger and ice cream vans, a hog roast, and a beer tent among other treats.

He said: "The organising is going really well, it's just a matter of getting the word out there more now, and getting as many people along as possible. It's a great cause, and we've had lots of interest and support from the community so far."

Tickets in advance cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, and the organisers say that 100 per cent of the money from ticket sales and donations will go to the charity. KGF Entertainments have been hosting a range of small satellite events in the run up to the big day to cover the costs required, including the fees for security staff.

Mr Beauchamp said: "The target donation amount, which we are hoping to exceed is £10,000. I am quite confident we can do that, fingers crossed.

"I chose to do something so big because we run a lot of smaller events, which I really enjoy, but I wanted to do something much bigger for charity. Help for Heroes was ideal because so many people have friends or family members who have been fighting. I am very excited about it all, Paul and I are working very hard, we were going to do it last year but we didn't know if we were ready, but it's going to be great."

There are concessionary rates available on tickets for pensioners and family ticket deals.